Dozens more oiled seabirds still being washed ashore

An increasing number of sea birds covered in oil are still being washed ashore following the Kiani Satu oil spill.

A penguin blackened with oil that spilled from the Kiani Satu cargo ship that ran aground off Knsyna on 8 August. The penguin and 35 others, plus 165 gannets are now at the Sanccob rehabilataion centre in Cape St Francis

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) has admitted 36 oiled African penguins and 165 oiled Cape Gannets so far. This includes 67 Cape gannets that were rescued yesterday from Bird Island by the Marine Rangers section of Addo Elephant National Park (SANParks).

A team of about 30 staff and volunteers have been hard at work hydrating the exhausted oiled gannets. The birds have been partitioned into groups according to their percentage oiling and strength which makes it easier to manage the rehabilitation process. The washing process started yesterday.

Dr Nola Parsons , Sanccob’s veterinarian, said most of the Cape gannets are strong and in a good condition. “The lightly oiled gannets are being washed first and will hopefully be ready for release towards next week pending their pre-release evaluation.”

All the African penguins admitted are heavily oiled and require another couple of days of being fed and hydrated before they will be strong enough for the stressful washing process.

The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (Sanccob) has admitted 36 oiled African penguins and 165 oiled Cape Gannets so far. This includes 67 Cape gannets that were rescued yesterday from Bird Island by the Marine Rangers section of Addo Elephant National Park (SANParks).

A team of about 30 staff and volunteers have been hard at work hydrating the exhausted oiled gannets.

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Currently, the team is managing the situation and need no additional volunteers to assist with the seabird rehabilitation operation.

Sanccob urges people not to attempt to remove the oil from any penguins or gannets. Upon finding oiled seabirds they should immediately contact Sanccob (Wilna Wilkinson – 082 326 4143) or Eden Biodiversity and Coastal Management (Vernon Gibbs – 072 670 5108) who will arrange for collection.